Presto Player and HTML5 Video Player by bPlugins offer free ways to add video playback to WordPress, and Easy Video Player and Videojs HTML5 Player are also listed in the WordPress.org plugin directory. Choose based on the video sources, captions, and presentation controls your site needs, then check which features require a paid upgrade.
The plugins originally recommended need different treatment: five directory listings have closed, and two have not been updated for years. Their status appears below for readers maintaining older sites.
Free plugins to consider
Presto Player
Presto Player supports HTML5, YouTube, and Vimeo video, with block editor integration, captions, poster images, and player branding. Its free feature list also includes lazy loading for HTML5 and YouTube video.
Private video, analytics, HLS adaptive streaming, and video chapters are listed as Pro features. That distinction makes the free version worth considering for presentation and basic playback, while more specialized hosting and measurement needs require closer review.
Easy Video Player
Easy Video Player embeds self-hosted or externally hosted video through direct file links. Its features include responsive MP4 playback, poster images, looping, muting, and autoplay when the browser and device allow it.
The plugin uses shortcodes and offers a MediaElement player option. It suits a site that needs straightforward video embeds without building a full video gallery.
HTML5 Video Player by bPlugins
HTML5 Video Player supports shortcode and block-based embeds, with free options for captions, HLS streams, and a simple video playlist. Its free feature list includes MP4, WebM, OGG, and MOV files, along with autoplay, looping, and muting controls.
Advanced playlist layouts, multiple subtitle tracks, and a quality switcher are listed as Pro features. This is a different plugin from the older HTML5 Video Player with Playlist discussed below.
Videojs HTML5 Player
Videojs HTML5 Player uses the Video.js library to embed self-hosted or externally hosted files. It supports responsive MP4 playback, poster images, WebM and OGV alternatives, and HTTP streaming.
Its shortcode options cover controls, preload behavior, looping, and muting. Keep browser restrictions in mind when using autoplay, because the plugin’s description makes that behavior conditional on device and browser support.
The built-in Video block
WordPress also includes a Video block, so a separate plugin is not required for a basic video embed. Choose Upload, Media Library, or Insert from URL, and use Text tracks for WebVTT captions.
A supported YouTube address transforms the block into a YouTube embed. The block also offers poster images and preload controls, allowing a simple comparison with a plugin before adding another component to the site.
Earlier recommendations and their status
Spider Video Player
The directory listing named SpiderVPlayer closed on March 7, 2024, because of a security issue and is unavailable for download. It should no longer be treated as an installation recommendation.
HTML5 Video Player with Playlist
The older HTML5 Video Player with Playlist listing shows its last update as December 23, 2014. WordPress warns that it may no longer be maintained and has not been tested with the three most recent major releases.
Its description advertised MP4 playback, mobile and browser compatibility, and both Flash and HTML5. XML playlists were a paid feature, so the name should not be read as a promise of free playlist functionality.
Stream Video Player
The Stream Video Player listing shows its last update as November 28, 2017, and carries the same WordPress maintenance warning. Its advertised features included XML playlists, captions, YouTube support, mobile HTML5 playback, responsive layouts, sharing, an embed generator, and seeking through pseudo-streaming.
The older feature list also described JW Media Player skins and plugins, open-source encoding tools, and XHTML output. Its Flash-based components are obsolete: Adobe ended Flash Player support in December 2020 and blocked Flash playback in January 2021.
HDW Player
HDW Player’s directory listing closed on March 7, 2024, because of a security issue. It is unavailable for download, so its old video-player and gallery recommendation should not be used to choose a plugin.
Cool Video Gallery
Cool Video Gallery closed on June 28, 2019, because of a security issue. Its directory record says it is unavailable for download, making an actively maintained alternative a better starting point.
ProPlayer
ProPlayer closed on November 21, 2016, and is unavailable for download. The directory record gives the reason as unknown, so the closure should not be described as a confirmed security incident.
Advanced YouTube Embed by Embed Plus
The old listing closed permanently on May 14, 2018, at the author’s request. Its old feature claims should not be assumed to apply to another plugin.
A separate listing named Embed Plus for YouTube Gallery, Livestream and Lazy Loading with Facades was updated in September 2026. That active listing is distinct from the closed one.
Updated October 2026: Added maintained free options, separated paid features, and documented the status of every original plugin. The original article was published in December 2013.
